Oae coupling



(No Model.) 2 Shets-Sheet 1.

J. B. NIXONr GAR COUPLING. No. 353,804. Patented Dec. '7, 1886.

i 0 A )2}; 7\l\ fit/l II 7' i Z %fjmfiil 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. B. NIXON.

GAR COUPLING.

(No Model.)

N0. 353,804. Patented Dec. '7, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. NIXON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 353,804, dated December7, 1886.

(No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES B. NIXON, of the city of St. Louis, State ofMissouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Means ofOperating the Couplings of Railroad-Oars; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, Sheet l,represents a side sectional elevation of my invention applied torailroad-cars when being coupled Fig. 2, Sheet 1, a similar view thereofwhen the cars are coupled; and Figs. 3 and 4, Sheet 2, end elevations ofFigs. 1 and 2, respectively.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

a represents an iron or other metal plate, formed or attached to theends of bars or levers b, which are hinged at c, beneath the car (I, ata suitable distance back from the front of the draw-head c to thebrackets c, which are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the bottomof the car, and are not connected with or secured to the draw-bar. Theplate a, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3, assumes the form of an inclinedplane, the top edge of which is inline with the lower edge of the openingfin the draw-head e. \Vhen the plate a isin this position, thecoupling-bolt g of the car d will be clear of its hole It in thedraw-head e, the upper end of the bolt 9 being attached by a chain orcord, 71, to the end of the inside arm, 9', of a two-armed lever, is,which is fulcrumed or pivoted at Z to the end of the car (I, (or to abracket or standard secured to the framework thereof, as the case maybe,) its other i or outer arm, at, extending to the side of the car (I,and having suspended from its end, within the reach of a persons handstanding on the ground at the side of the car, a chain or cord, n, whichmay be temporarily secured in any position of the lever k by a hook, 'orotherwise, to the end of the car (I.

To the ends of the arms 0, projecting at right angles, or nearly so,from the bars or levers 1), intermediate to their fulcrum c and theplate a, are the linked chains or cords p, the other ends of whichareattached to the end of the inside arm, j, of lever k, as in the caseof the chain 2', from the coupling-bolt g.

The plate a and coupling-bolt g beingin the position described and shownin Figs. 1 and 3 on the drawings, and it being required to couple thecar d to the car d, in which the coupling-link q is already secured bythe bolt 1*, as the cars d and d approach one another the outerdepressed end of the coupling-link q will come in contact with and rideup and be guided by the inclined plane or plate a into the openiugf inthe draw-head e.untilin its'proper position therein, when the lever is,being released by letting go the chain or cord n, the coupling-bolt g ofthe car (I will pull down the inside arm, j, of the lever k, anddropping through the hole h, coupling-link q, and lower hole, h, in thedraw-head c, the coupling of the cars (I and d will be effected. Ondropping the armj of lever 7c the bars or levers b, with the plate a,will also drop away from the draw-head e of the car d, and the variousparts of the arrangement will assume the position seen in Figs. 3 and 4on the drawlugs.

By raising-army of the lever by the chain or cord n, the coupling-bolt 9may be raised from the draw-head e, so as to uncouple the cars d and d,the plate a being raised again at the same time into its originalposition ready for recoupling the car when required.

I am aware that a movable lifting or guiding plate for engaging with thecoupling link and devices for raising the pin and plate have been usedbefore, and I do not desire to claim the same broadly.

The advantages of my improvement are that the plate-and pin have noconnection with the draw-bar, and are easily applied to any car havingdraw-bars of the ordinary form.

I claim- 1. The combination of inclined plate a, hinged at c to the bodyof the car by the bars orlevers I), having arms 0, with chains or cordsp, lever k, pivoted to car d, and chain or cord at, substantially asshown, and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the inclined plate a, hinged at c to the body ofthe car by bars or levers I), having arms 0, attached by chains or cordsp to lever 7c, and of coupling-bolt 9, attached by chain or cord 2' tolever k, with draw-head c and chain or cord a, substantially as shown,and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses, this 14th day of December, 1885.

JAMES B. NIXON.

Witnesses:

7 PAUL BAKEWELL,

EDWIN SAUTER.

